MLB 2008 PT 2

[jenbobblehead]

Are the DEVILrays playing that well, or are the Red Sox playing that poorly? I can't decide, but I do know the Sox aren't going to go far with the entire weight of the team on one 5'7" balding rookie dude in Dustin Pedroia. For whatever reason Manny's head is not in the game, Lugo continues to be a bit of a liability and Varitek's slump is harshing everyone's vibe. Don't even get me started on pitching and bullpen. Team needs some voodoo, but I am not spilling my own blood this year for a championship. Been there, done that, TWICE, got the scars.

[Guest Cousin Tupelo]

Agreed. It's always fun when new teams get into the mix, and no team has been in the mix less than the (Devil) Rays. The fact that there's all this tension with Boston makes it even more exciting. I hope they can keep it up. I'd much rather see Boston vs. Tampa on TV 45 times per season for a couple of seasons instead of Boston vs. New York.

If you watch Rays telecasts, it's like their own broadcasters don't know what to do with the new-found success. Very stilted broadcasts, with the ever-exciting DeWayne Staats. Plus even with their success, it's hard to get crowd shots to punctuate the broadcast.

[Guest Cousin Tupelo]

From Chicago Tribune online

 

Steve Stone in, Darrin Jackson out of Sox TV booth?

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,7145594.story

[MrRain422]

Are the DEVILrays playing that well, or are the Red Sox playing that poorly? I can't decide, but I do know the Sox aren't going to go far with the entire weight of the team on one 5'7" balding rookie dude in Dustin Pedroia. For whatever reason Manny's head is not in the game, Lugo continues to be a bit of a liability and Varitek's slump is harshing everyone's vibe. Don't even get me started on pitching and bullpen. Team needs some voodoo, but I am not spilling my own blood this year for a championship. Been there, done that, TWICE, got the scars.

 

The Sox haven't played their best against them, but the Rays really are that good. They're steamrolling lots of teams, not just the Red Sox.

[watch me fall]

I have a friend who is absolutely seething right now because the Rays played "Sweet Caroline" after the win. What do you guys think?

I thought it was pretty hilarious. Of course, I'm not a Red Sox fan by any means. In fact, I pretty much loathe them. Anyway....

 

Another HR for Chipper, another loss for the Bravos.

[Lammycat]

I have a friend who is absolutely seething right now because the Rays played "Sweet Caroline" after the win. What do you guys think?

Pretty funny. Hey, they just swept the WS champs.

[Lammycat]

Agreed. It's always fun when new teams get into the mix, and no team has been in the mix less than the (Devil) Rays. The fact that there's all this tension with Boston makes it even more exciting. I hope they can keep it up.

Actually, the DRays have been a thorn in the side of BOS for awhile now, not just this season. BOS has struggled/battled plenty with them the last five years or so, with the Rays coming up on the winning end a good deal. They haven't been a threat, per se, for a playoff spot, but for whatever reason they've been a stumbling block.

 

I like the rivalry too. That doesn't take away my enjoyment of a BOS/NYY series like the 4-game one starting tonight, regardless of how many people are sick of it.

[Oil Can Boyd]

I have a friend who is absolutely seething right now because the Rays played "Sweet Caroline" after the win. What do you guys think?

As a Red Sox fan of over 30 years I can say that I am really sick of the Sweet Caroline thing.

It was fine and even sort of fun in 2004 but it's time to give it up.

[Lammycat]

Are the DEVILrays playing that well, or are the Red Sox playing that poorly?

A little foprm column A, a little from column B.

And I'll throw in column c: Francona's managing.

 

Tito made some very poor managerial decisions in the series (Varitek, who's been wretched at the plate of late batting in the 9th?, Lowell sent to steal 2nd?, etc.) and I think that's part of it, too. Of course, Manny has been in a slump, Ortiz is out, and middle relief pitching has choked a few times.

 

The Rays have "it" going for them right now and it's evident in their level of play. I enjoyed watching the series, as much as I was disappointed at the outcome, and in a weird way feel kind of glad for the Rays to attain some recognition for their success after so much futility. That said, I eagerly anticipate their downfall as we head into the second half and the Sox get their key components firing on all cylinders again.

[mfwahl]

Wish i could have been at the game last night. The one on Monday was great. I think the biggest thing taken from the series for me is that there are Rays fans now. I went to the last Rays/Sox series here and it was depressing. Red Sox chants echoing through the dome, red everywhere. It was great to see the Rays are starting to get a fanbase. They had an article in our paper about local Sox fans changing allegiance as the Rays get better and better.

[Lammycat]

They had an article in our paper about local Sox fans changing allegiance as the Rays get better and better.

"fans"

pffft. Those aren't fans.

[mfwahl]

"fans"

pffft.

In the article, this guy calls his dad a traitor.

[myboyblue]

From Chicago Tribune online

 

Steve Stone in, Darrin Jackson out of Sox TV booth?

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,7145594.story

 

I think Steve Stone is phenomenal but this would make me a bit on the sad side. DJ is solid in my opinion. He and Hawk get unfairly bashed by all together too many.

[Guest Cousin Tupelo]

I think Steve Stone is phenomenal but this would make me a bit on the sad side. DJ is solid in my opinion. He and Hawk get unfairly bashed by all together too many.

The Tribune story notes that Stone might also have a hand in one of the ownership groups for the Cubs. That would be an interesting 360-degree turn for that franchise.

[cryptique]

I think Steve Stone is phenomenal but this would make me a bit on the sad side. DJ is solid in my opinion. He and Hawk get unfairly bashed by all together too many.

I've grown to like DJ, and I'm one of the few Hawk defenders 'round these parts. I too would be sad to see that team broken up.

 

Stone often provides decent analysis, but there's something about his voice, or vocal pattern, or something, that just annoys me after a while. I eventually got real tired of him on Cubs broadcasts.

[Lammycat]

He and Hawk get unfairly bashed by all together too many.

Hawk gets justly bashed, imo. He is probably the worst in the business. Imo. He is annoying to no end with his homerism and his cliched tripe and his catch-phrases. Imo.

[cryptique]

Hawk gets justly bashed, imo. He is probably the worst in the business. Imo. He is annoying to no end with his homerism and his cliched tripe and his catch-phrases. Imo.

The catch phrases are tired, that much is true. I think if you listened to a lot of other play-by-play men around the league, though, you'd find him to be no more of a homer than average. He's generally pretty fair about umpire calls, for instance.

 

He somehow got a reputation for homerism, and now it's the first thing everyone brings up. Objectively comparing him to others, though ... he's really not bad in that respect.

[MrRain422]

He is worse than average with the homerism. DJ is not as bad as Hawk, but Steve Stone would be a huge upgrade.

[Lammycat]

The catch phrases are tired, that much is true. I think if you listened to a lot of other play-by-play men around the league, though, you'd find him to be no more of a homer than average. He's generally pretty fair about umpire calls, for instance.

 

He somehow got a reputation for homerism, and now it's the first thing everyone brings up. Objectively comparing him to others, though ... he's really not bad in that respect.

I do watch a lot of other games and listen to a fair share of announcers and honestly, don't see the level of homerism that Hawk and his buddy provide. There's a reason he has that reputation. Granted, I haven't listened to one of his called games this season (why put myself in that position?) so maybe he's tapered it off. Still- his homerism is beyond tolerable for me.

 

I vividly recall games I've watched him call where he is out and out disagreeing with umpire calls- balls/strikes even! Rubbish. I've heard Hawk is a decent guy and obviously has a passion for the game but I am no fan of his style in the booth.

[myboyblue]

Stone often provides decent analysis, but there's something about his voice, or vocal pattern, or something, that just annoys me after a while. I eventually got real tired of him on Cubs broadcasts.

 

It may be his arrogance?

 

 

For the rest of you sunsabitches, for all of the bashing Hawk takes for his 'catch phrases', most announcers wish they had him. I can understand people that aren't fans of the White Sox liking him but he isn't necessarily catering to them. Some feel that they should be objective, while I appreciate him not being objective.

[Guest Cousin Tupelo]

It may be his arrogance?

 

 

For the rest of you sunsabitches, for all of the bashing Hawk takes for his 'catch phrases', most announcers wish they had him. I can understand people that aren't fans of the White Sox liking him but he isn't necessarily catering to them. Some feel that they should be objective, while I appreciate him not being objective.

What I like about Stone is that, as a color commentator, he would actually provide analysis of strategy and managerial decisions before the play, rather than the run of the mill ex-athlete who *knew what was going to happen* and merely punctuates with hyperbole. And the fact the Stone, more often than not, was right, also made it compelling.

 

Watching the telecasts of the cross-town series, Hawk definitely has his moments. I don't mind the catch phrases as much as, seemingly, his lapses.

 

But you're right, they call them "on air personalities" for a reason.

[myboyblue]

What I like about Stone is that, as a color commentator, he would actually provide analysis of strategy and managerial decisions before the play, rather than the run of the mill ex-athlete who *knew what was going to happen* and merely punctuates with hyperbole. And the fact the Stone, more often than not, was right, also made it compelling.

 

Watching the telecasts of the cross-town series, Hawk definitely has his moments. I don't mind the catch phrases as much as, seemingly, his lapses.

 

But you're right, they call them "on air personalities" for a reason.

agreed on all fronts...again, I like Stone but he does come off a bit arrogant at times.

[Lammycat]

For the rest of you sunsabitches, for all of the bashing Hawk takes for his 'catch phrases', most announcers wish they had him. I can understand people that aren't fans of the White Sox liking him but he isn't necessarily catering to them. Some feel that they should be objective, while I appreciate him not being objective.

And there's the rub.

 

I'd be just as turned of if Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo kow-towed to the fans the way Hawk does. Of course there should be some loyalty to the home team/fans, but there's also a line (imo) that should be drawn in terms of calling a game subjectively/objectively. I prefer my announcers to call/analyse/comment on a play, player, game, whatever with as little bias as possible.

[myboyblue]

And there's the rub.

 

I'd be just as turned of if Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo kow-towed to the fans the way Hawk does. Of course there should be some loyalty to the home team/fans, but there's also a line (imo) that should be drawn in terms of calling a game subjectively/objectively. I prefer my announcers to call/analyse/comment on a play, player, game, whatever with as little bias as possible.

 

You also prefer the wrong kind of apples. And it is for these reasons that I am putting you on ignore.*

 

 

 

*not really

[Sir Stewart]

I hate the "Sweet Caroline" singalong at Fenway (which has now spilled over to wedding receptions, etc) - and I thought it was pretty funny of the Damn Rays to play it last night.